Concrete Ships Kiptopeke State Park - Cape Charles, VA
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 37° 09.998 W 075° 59.333
18S E 412204 N 4113815
Placed in 1948 to create a breakwater for the ferry system, these nine World War II-era concrete ships provide a unique habitat for birds and marine life.
Waymark Code: WM1200V
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 01/19/2020
Views: 3
Placed in 1948 to create a breakwater for the ferry system, these nine World War II-era concrete ships provide a unique habitat for birds and marine life.
Due to a steel shortage, these ships were built out of concrete in the early 1940s by McCloskey and Company of Philadelphia. They were primarily used as cargo ships transporting freight to allied forces in Japan and in training exercises in the Pacific.
While fishing near the ships is permitted, please do not attempt to anchor to or board the ships. For more information about concrete ships, please visit www.concreteships.org.
The concrete ships provide an excellent habitat for a variety of species, including striped bass, flounder, tautog and black sea bass. Ospreys and pigeons also use the concrete ships for nesting.
Catalogue of Ships…
*S.S. William Foster Cowham
*S.S. John Grant
*S.S. Robert Whitman Lesley
*S.S. Richard Kidder Meade
*S.S. Willard A. Pollard
*S.S. Willis A. Slater
*S.S. Arthur Newell Talbot
*S.S. Edward Thatcher
*S.S. Leonard Chase Wason
Group that erected the marker: Keptopeke State Park.
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
3540 Kiptopeke Drive
This marker is on the fishing pier at Keptopeke State Park.
Cape Charles, VA USA
23310
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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